Silicon Valley’s AI wunderkind launches Underdog, the most private Instinct/Muse competitor yet; plus, name Ex-Ramp engineers raise $20M for platform Melius

The San Francisco startup aims to help battery and chip manufacturers identify defects on production lines, reducing downtime and costly mistakes. Also, as AI data centers and EVs drive up demand for copper, Giraffe Bio has unearthed a $6.4 million seed round to help miners extract more of the mineral. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Honeyjar believes AI can actually make PR better. Also, WindBorne is a startup that uses weather balloons and AI to predict the weather won a US military contract worth almost $50 million. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Efferon has developed blood-purification tech to save children. Sepsis, an acute inflammation triggered by infection, is a leading cause of childhood mortality, claiming roughly 3 million children under the age of five annually. Also, Petra Power says its fuel cells are super efficient and cut fuel costs during a time when the tech industry can’t get enough electricity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Richard Bronson, a former Stratton Oakmont partner who served time in federal prison for securities violations, has launched Commissary Club, a startup that uses AI to help people leaving prison find jobs, housing, community and even dates. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As it turns out, the cure for stuffy, chemical-infused office air might be a tower of leafy greenery. Also, Mecka AI pays people to record everyday tasks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sigil Wen, backed by a Silicon Valley's who-who, has built an on-device AI assistant that promises to be free, fully private, and capable for everyday tasks. Also, Melius crossed over $1 million in annualized revenue within two months of its post-pivot launch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Founded by two sisters, Hot Girl Hotline uses AI to give young women personalized dating and relationship advice, with an emphasis on safety and avoiding emotional dependency. Also, days after Vinod Khosla called Factory a struggling also-ran, Menlo has shown up with a check and a glowing blog post. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Photon helps developers build AI agents that work over iMessage, SMS/RCS, email, and other messaging platforms. It's a bet that consumers will increasingly use agents instead of downloading apps. Also, Kevin Mandia, best known as the founder of Mandiant, has a new startup that is using agent swarms to test and protect enterprises. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fervo Energy completed its first power plant in less than two years. The next phases promise to connect to the grid even quicker. Also, MyMonthlyCar is a platform that lets dealers rent out their idle used cars month to month (with an option to buy), and it's now one of the startups showing off at this year's TechCrunch Disrupt, running October 13 to 15 in San Francisco. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

VC Chris Degnan and former board advisor to Factory AI has taken a job as chief revenue officer for Cognition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices